The JW idea that believers are destined either for heavenly life or for endless life on earth comes in for significant criticism by critics of various kinds. Even some groups, such as the Christadelphians, who share belief in a future paradise earth, don’t share the view that some Christians are destined for life in heaven.
Yet there is surprisingly quite a lot of evidence in the Bible for the existence of two distinct groups of believers. This is especially evident in the book of Revelation, which makes sense if JWs are correct that this prophetic book projects forward to the period when the second group of believers with an earthly destiny is to be gathered.
The most obvious indication of two groups of believers is Revelation 7 which contrasts the 144,000 “Israelites”, with the great crowd from every tribe and nation that no one was able to number.
On top of that, we have Revelation 14.4 where the 144,000 are described as “bought from among mankind as firstfruits”. If these believers are “firstfruits to God and to the Lamb”, that would imply there are other believers who are subsequent fruitage, though not part of this initial group.
Then there is mention of those who are part of the “first resurrection” in Rev 20.6, who are said to rule as kings with Christ for 1000 years. In verse 5 we were told that “the rest of the dead did not come to life until the 1000 years were ended”. Again, clearly we have two separate groups of believers, only one of which rules with Christ.
Which all makes sense when you consider that, in order for there to be kings and priests, there must be subjects of the kingdom for those kings and priests to rule over. The prospect of being rulers of the nations was held out to Israel. When they rejected the privilege it was given to another nation producing fruits, (Matt 21.43) the “Israel of God”. (Gal 6.16)
One more indication of two groups of believers comes in Rev 22.17: “the spirit and the bride keep saying, ‘Come!’ and let anyone hearing say, ‘Come!’ and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone who wishes take life’s water free.” Here, the bride of Christ extends the invitation to others to benefit from life’s water free. This must be the second group of believers indicated by the “great crowd”, and “the rest” who came to life at the end of the 1000 years.
What about Ephesians 4.4 that says: “you were called to the one hope of your calling”. Doesn’t this show that there are not two groups of believers? Two things to note about that: 1) when Paul wrote this letter there were only anointed Christians at that time, one group, and 2) although the anointed and the great crowd have different destinies, they both exercise faith in Jesus as the basis for their shared hope of salvation from sin and death. So in that sense perhaps JWs should drop the language of “two hopes”, or “heavenly” and “earthly hopes”, if that terminology causes any stumbling. It might be better to talk about two destinies for believers, either ruling with Christ in heaven, or subjects of the kingdom on earth, which is based on a range on biblical statements including the few reviewed above.